Archive for March, 2012

Zarine Khan, well known interior designer known for her aesthetic taste and design skills presents”Fizaa” her dream project that blends a personal passion forfashion with her professional expertise in design.

Each desinger has been handpicked and invited by Zarine Khan. Some from out of Mumbai like Seema & Jamila Malhrotra (who have done the costumes for Shakespeare in Love), Manav Gangwani and Varun Bahl came down for Zarine’s glamourous launch evening hosted on Friday 30th March.

Guests enjoyed the lavish spread of designer chocolates, sparkling champagne and an array of cheeses served at the store. Fizaa with all minimal lines in chrome & glass along with blue velvets giving a touch of royalty has been completely designed by Zarine Khan herself

From Manav Gangwani’s sensational couture, Varun Bahl’s chic classic ensembles to Adarsh Gill’s stunning saris, from Surily Goel and Ramona Rodella’s head- turning Resort wear to Gauri & Nainika’s red carpet creations. Fizaa is a destination that spells one of a kind fashion, at Fizaa, the air and atmosphere are all about elegance in colour, style and silhouettes.

L’oreal Paris collaborated with India’s leading magazine ‘Femina’ for an award event this week. The event was held in a fashionable style at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai. Here is a look at the red carpet of the event.

Priyanka Chopra wore a ‘Gauri-Nainika’ outfit for the award event in fuchsia color. She toned down the look with white open toe pumps and sparkling diamond earrings to give the entire focus on this lovely color. IFP loves this look and thinks that Priyanka rocked on the red carpet.

Sonam Kapoor never fails to surprise me on the red carpet………………..the fact that we love her is simply because she is always different than the rest of the crowd yet looks fabulous in any ensemble. At the L’oreal Paris – Femina Awards, Sonam opted for a beautiful Anamika Khanna saree combined with an interesting blouse that had a lot of detail work. We are loving this red hot look on Sonam………

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was also at the event with mama Vrinda Rai where both mother-daughter got the award for being the ‘Woman of Substance’. Aishwarya was spotted in a geometric print churidhar while Vrinda Rai opted for a graceful pink saree. Not a fan of Aishwarya’s look since the big prints made her look much more heavier than she actually is………..as for her baby weight, every new mum has the right to enjoy motherhood and shed weight leisurely………..so why let Aishwarya be any different.

Lara Dutta also made her red carpet appearance in a beautiful ‘Rocky S’ saree. The pista green with a golden saree made her look pretty as ever and the new mum definitely glowed on the red carpet. Like the look and will wait for her future red carpet appearances eagerly.

First look at Ms. Ranaut and you are taken back to the 1960s era where Audrey Hepburn ruled the fashion scene with her style. The LBD combined with a signature ‘Dior’ bag, nude open toe pumps and a pearl neckpiece is very vintage but unfortunately I cannot find our very own Kangna in it. Honestly I think channelling a style icon through your dressing is like paying a ‘Tribute’ to them, but loosing yourself in their style is a threat to your own fashion existence.

Dia Mirza opted for ‘Anita Dongre’ design in blue & white. She combined the weave design with silver accessory and a basic black clutch…..unfortunately the look would have been better for a dinner party or evening out with friends. For the red carpet, wish Dia would have gone a bit more glamorous.

Is it just me or does this pretty lady always turn up well on the red carpet at every event. Sophie Choudry looked gorgeous in this ‘Ramona Garware’ gown in fuchsia pink combined with a black & pink fancy clutch. IFP gives her two thumbs up to Sophie for always being so stylish and elegant at the same time.

Green was the color of choice for Queenie at the event…………….the fish scale detailing with a glittery clutch and basic black open toe pumps work for her well. She wears this Diane Von Furstenberg outfit well and after a long time have I seen her look pretty on the red carpet. IFP likes it mainly because of the rich emerald color…

Model Dipannita Sharma went the more adventurous with this ‘Masaba Gupta’ saree in camera print. Funky prints are surely ‘in’ this summer season and Dipannita surely wears this outfit well. Just wish she had skipped the metallic hue clutch and opted for wooden bangle instead to complete her look.

Actress Poorna Jagannathan opted for an elegant ‘Dior’ gown and a monochrome clutch in B/W to match with the outfit. After a series of red carpet miss outs for Poorna, it was pleasant to see her look beautiful on the red carpet. IFP is all eyes for her…….:-)

Atosa’s Summer Souk preview was all about light, easy going fashion paired with out of the box, funky accessories. Also presenting for the for the first time a textiles collection too, making array of products more comprehensive………allowing to celebrate the season with your wardrobe and home as well!!

“Summer Souk is a really fun collection of new designers showing innovation and creativty. These are designs that are truly one of a kind and its gives us great pleasure to give a patform to such talent at Atosa” said Aparna and Azmina.

Mayank & Shraddha take inspiration from the traditional garb of the Indian male; lungi-gamcha of the mazdoors and the dhoti-kurta of the sahibs; Mayank Anand Shraddha Nigam brings to you ‘Blow hot blow cold’. Although the origins of the fabrics used in the collection are humble, in romanticizing and reinterpreting the silhouettes the garments created using them are Fun, flirty and glamorous. Light and breezy dresses, tunics and versatile separates form the bulk of the collection. The saree, in its varied forms and interpretations, shows up in unique ways in a number of garments. The fabrics used are 100% natural with various handcrafted dyeing techniques that show up with kota doria, bhagalpuri, pochchampally, benarasi, lungis and gamchas in cotton, silk and bamboo.

Shruti Reddy’s label “Nana”, for handmade cushions, bags, hot water bottle covers and other lifestyle products are what make people smile, that bring warmth to their souls, and made them forget their worries. Love, humour, handmade, colour and pattern are the basis of all her products.

A soft color palette consisting of baby pink ,lemon yellow along with scoops of pista green bring about a breezy feel to the summer resort 2012 collection. clean cut maxi dresses , pallazo sarees ,patiala salwars with easygoing cropped tops are the silhouettes for the summer. As always,print is predominant & vintage inspired however not sidelining the golden ‘taar’ embroidery against the stark pista green and cream ensembles.’Sorbet’ is a playful resortwear line,with an edge.

“GaGa” by Tanya Sharma draws her inspiration from the rich Indian diversity & plethora of cultures, vibrant colours & the earthy core. Her designs are dynamic & a vivacious melange of traditional Indian textiles, embroidery & contemporary styles which lead to her distinct signature look. Through Gaga, Tanya looks towards evoking a sense of the avante garde & the sublime. Gaga’s main focus is to let the lush & lively spirit of colour spread the message of love & happi ness. The main aim in the collection is to transcend the conservative white shirt look into a more unidentifiable space which is influenced by genres like hip-hop, rock and roll, street dance. In order to make it more unique to India, i have used Indian fabrics like the Chennai floral Lungi, the fluoroscent Rajasthani Odhni fabric, Ikat & embroidery inspired by the same. The colours are bright & happy colours, just as I see the world, fluoroscents being my all time favorites.”

Vaishali S presents “Khwaja” at Atosa “I am fascinated by this philosophy and want to pay my tribute to these true and pure spirit of denying of being and becoming nobody” In the intuitive process of presenting this thought into a collection, I have used hand woven organic cotton to keep the purity of thought and the embellishment of beads are weaved into the fabric to interpret the thought into the garment. I have mainly used black and white color to show two different sides of a world and have tried to achieve different silhouettes along with the draping to show the variety of the concept. The fabric that has been used is cotton that has a soft feel as well as it is flowy.

Shruti Sancheti’s Sufiana means “Like A Sufi”…….. Sufism is defined by it’s adherents as the Inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is known as Sufi or Dervish. Her collection is inspired by the unsurpassed and divine legacy of the Sufi’s and their mystical form of devotion, purity of thought, actualization of truth and religious harmony. It draws inspiration from the passion, vibrancy and sublime culture of the Sufi’s. The look is inspired by the nomadic yet sublime lifestyle of Sufi’s and beaded namaaz caps with fringes, tribal cuffs and bangles, patch work jholas and customised mojri/wedges in bhagru prints are used to impart a tribal yet pristine look.

Atosa, has slowly but surely carved a niche for itself as a store that is a platform for fashion that is edgy and avant garde, with some ofthe biggest names in fashion showcasing their collections here.Atosa is all about expression, experimentation, surface forms and colours.

“We try and ensure that each visit to Atosa gives our customers a reason to come back. This season, our designers are sure to capture the imagination of Mumbai’s fashionistas with their cutting edge style, sophistication
and wiity design sense”, add Aparna and Azmina.

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Spring will be here soon and so will be the gorgeous summer dresses………..that brings me to the ‘Find of the Month’ – Mulberry Tree. Fabulous dresses and gowns designed by Rachael FC is sure to make you look drop dead gorgeous.

‘Mulberry Tree’ has a collection fit for casual time-out, office, evening out or party. Chic, playful dresses or sexy look, which ever look is your favorite, Rachael has the designs for you. The creations can also be customized for the clients at ‘Mulberry Tree’. The price range starts from Rs. 3,500 and goes upto Rs. 15,000.

We also got to have a quick chat with the designer herself to know more about the label that she has created to make women look beautiful.

Q & A with Rachael FC – Creator of Mulberry Tree

1) What was your inspiration behind designing dresses?

There is nothing a woman loves more than a well designed & fitted dress.. It’s an instant pick up when you try on a dress and look at yourself in the mirror and look fabulous! It’s my instant fix and I’m sure it’s almost every other womans too, and that is the inspiration behind all my dresses… Wanting every woman who tries on a Mulberry Tree design to feel “wow” in it!

2) How did you start off with ‘Mulberry Tree’?

Fashion and design was something that always interested me from a very young age and in 2007 I started my first clothing store called “Rachael”, I sourced clothes from all over the world and provided a great mix of international design and fashion that was not available in Mumbai at the time! However, with the influx of many international high street brands into India over the last few years, I felt I needed to do something different. That is how Mulberry Tree happened, my own fashion label where everything from designing to final production was all done in house by me and my team!

3) Cocktail dresses to evening gowns, what more on your mind for ‘Mulberry Tree’

Other than the cocktail dresses and evening gowns, Mulberry Tree does a lot more for personalised orders.. From jumpsuits to casual dresses or smart & chic office wear and even the odd cocktail sari blouse, we do it all!

4) Best compliment ever received for your creations.

Over the last few months Mulberry Tree has been inundated with messages from clients telling us how many compliments they received when they wore a Mulberry Tree creation! It’s not very often that a designer receives messages from clients to that effect and thanking you for making them look so beautiful.. It is a joy I cannot describe, great satisfaction & joy!

5) Any plans to take your collection to fashion weeks?

As of now, Mulberry Tree is happy the way it is.. No fashion week plans yet!

6) What is your personal style mantra?

My personal style is a lot reflected in Mulberry Tree! It’s what I’m in the mood for, could be a jumpsuit for the day and a assymetrical flowy dress for the night! Accessorise a day dress with a chic hat and put on statement neckpiece in the night! Im not a big fan of bling clothes, subtle yet bold is more my style!

Mulberry Tree is available online via theirFacebook Page or you can call 9819080444 or email mulberrytree23@gmail.com. It is also available in the stores below

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As the LFW comes to a close, I must admit this time around the designs were fresh and will get to see a lot on the red carpet. Day 5 too had loads of new ideas incorporated into new collection. So let’s find out you walked with browny points with their elaborate collection on the final day.

MALAGAby Malini Agarwalla

Malini Agarwalla’s recent accessories collection titled ‘Kwazulu’ was inspired by the Zulu tribe of Africa. IT haa collection of clutch bags, handbags, belts, jewelry and shoes in vibrant colors & animal prints. Love the beaded neckpieces which can be combined with any plain color outfit to spice up your look since the jewelry itself looks like detailwork. The look was young, flirty & sophisticated ………all combined together is how I can describe this new line.

MALAGA had not one but a bevy of celebs walk down the runway like Vidya Malavade, Maria Gorretti, Mini Mathur, Sharmila Khanna, Madhu Shah and Shaheen Abbas. IFP thinks and definitely feels MALAGA has a winner collection with ‘Kwazulu’ and hope to see more of these creations on top celebs.

Jatin Varma

Jatin Varma’s recent work ‘Glisten – Shine by Reflection’ was presented at LFW. Where Sequins and shimmer were the highlight of his earlier collection, laser cut in pastels took centrestage in ‘Glisten’. Alluring short cocktail dresses, grand gowns, sheer skirts, sexy swimwear, Bolero jackets were part of the collection. Model Ankit Shorey dressed in black was show stopper for JV. The laser cut mesh were used a drapes or in form of detailwork in this contemporary creation which IFP feels many fashion forward women would love to experiment with. Jatin Varma has taken a bit of risk with his recent works but I am sure that his effort will not go unnoticed. Last year saw a lot of JV designs on the magazine covers & red carpet……….this one will win many fashion votes too.

Rohit Bal

‘Kaarigar’ is the tilte of Rohit Bal’s new collection, had a line of velvet jackets, floor length Anarkali, Bandhgala jackets, Sherwani and Kurtas. ‘Magnificient’ is how I can describe this collection in a word for it’s grandeur and splendour. The colors started from pastels and transformed to darker hues by the end of the finale. Beautiful motifs inspired by nature were created on silhouettes by the craftsman or better known as ‘Kaarigar’…………the richness simply made me sit up in awe of their work. Model Sheetal Mallar was the show stopper for Rohit. IFP loves the fact that Rohit has always used traditional Indian kaarigari in his work and made it look so brilliant on the runway.

Indian designers are definitely getting a knack of designing western wear with a good fit. Day 4 was a witness to collection inspired by the western world. So who fit our bill for perfection, let’s have a look at it……….

Siddhartha Tytler

After more than a year got to see Siddhartha Tytler’s new collection which I must say still impresses me. His recent work titled aptly ‘My Journey’ since this year Siddhartha’s label would be completing 10 years. This time around the bling factor was minimized but color blocking was more intense and pastels combined with gold & silver. There were kaftans, tops, short dresses, skirts, pants and jackets seen on the runway.Sonali Bendre Behl looked stunning in black dress with a colorful jacket as she walked down the runway. IFP likes this collection for the wearability factor and the fit of the silhouette.

Payal Singhal

We had shown you the exclusive preview of Payal’s upcoming collection but find it even more fabulous on the runway. The bridal collection titled ‘A Midsummer’s Night dream’ had a lot of net lehengas, crystal & pearl detailwork, brocade and gotha work. Pastels were combined with jewel tones. Actress Tanisha took the ramp in a navy blue lehenga though I wished she would have wore the dupatta a bit differently. IFP likes the bridal collection which would make a woman look gorgeous for her summer wedding.

Karmik

Designer Pret Fashion House ‘KARMIK’ was launched at Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai with Sonakshi Sinha walking the runway in a JJ Valaya creation looking like a dream in the Anarkali. ‘ KARMIK’ is designer at affordable price which is a boon for all the ladies out there. Top designers like Rohit Bal, Anamika Khanna, JJ Valaya, Rocky S, Falguni & Shane Peacock, Ranna Gill, Shantanu & Nikhil, Rina Dhaka, NEeta Lulla & Kavita Bhartia will be creating an affordable collection for ‘KARMIK’. Models posed on the ramp in these beautiful outfits at LFW by these designers. IFP is delighted to introduce ‘KARMIK’ to all the fashionistas and thinks this retail concept of bringing design wear within affordable price is amazing.

It is hard but I am yet to find outstanding work from budding designers. As for the established ones, I am not at all disappointed with their Resort collection……….there is color, better fit and newer style that I have got to see plus cocktail dress designs have been my favourite so far. So let’s catch up who lured us with their creation on Day 3 of LFW.

Anita Dongre

‘Waves of Joy’ which is Anita Dongre’s recent collection was inspired from Indian textiles. The show was in collaboration with Godrej Interio Design HQ for which Anita has designed a line of furniture. The color pallette ranged from lighter pastels to brighter colors. The outfits had a very retro look in terms of designs with dresses, gowns, sarees, pants, shirts. Anita also launched menswear collection which had a range of blazers, trousers and jackets. IFP likes the look of traditional weaves used to create contemporary look and gives a thumbs up for the flirty short dresses.

Krishna Mehta

Krishna Mehta’s recent work was a fusion of bright oranges, hot pinks and bold reds with beige, cream and black………now that actually caught my eye. The floral motifs which had mostly rose detailwork looked beautiful on the runway…… the touch of lace here & there added a touch of class. The collection had sarees, kurtis with churidhar sleeves, tunics, bolero jackets, wide leg pants, anarkali, skirts & lehenga. There was a lot of sequin detail seen on the blouse but the bling on the sarees were thankfully kept muted. IFP recommends Krishna Mehta’s collection for the upcoming summer season………..wear it for a daytime party, a summer wedding or a cocktailevent, you can never go wrong with this collection.

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I always wonder, what makes a designer’s imagination run wild when they are thinking of new creations…………something that stands out of the rest. Hard for me to tell since I am just an audience or better a critic in this case who gives opinion via this space. But these are the ideas which set the trends sometimes rest others just fade away. So let’s just take a look at the alluring designs of Day 2 which IFP thinks will make a lasting impression.

Bhairavi Jaikishan

Whenever I see a beautiful ‘Chantilly’ lace saree, the name Bhairavi Jaikishan does cross my mind. So I was thrilled to see the grand bridal lehengas and sarees by Bhairavi which were showcased at LFW for the very first time. The collection named as ‘The Sensous Woman’ fit the bill for summer weddings. The colour pallete moved from dull golds, pastels, to vibrant blues, pinks, turquoise, vermillions in tulles, nets and lame fabric. Color blocking was one of the prominent features of this collection and exquisite detail work always makes Bhairavi’s collection stand out. Model & actress Amy Jackson looked charming as she walked the runway in Bhairavi’s creation. IFP loves this amazingly elegant collection for the bride who is a believer in heirloom.

Pia Pauro

Pia Pauro was the surprise of Day 2, with her vibrant collection I adore her ‘oh-so-fabulous’ collection. Inspired by tribal art & Arabian countries, the collection ‘Shamal’ had loads of prints, color and bling to it. Sundresses, comfy tunics, flowing kaftans, elegant saris, slinky evening wear along with resort wear like swimsuits, beach bags and handmade accessories. It was young and chic. Actress Tara Sharma donned a metallic detail work dress as a show-stopper for Pia. IFP Loves the youthful prints and the neon color which are sure to lift your mood this summer season.

Bibhu Mohapatra

For the very first time, designer Bibhu showcased his creations at Lakme Fashion Week…….he is a well-known Indian designer based in New York who has showcased his work at the prestigious New York Fashion Week. Bibhu knew how to impress the audience way back home with his recent collection which had more emphasis on the cut. I am in awe of the laser cut pattern and the knee-length dresses which spelt ‘seductive’ all over. Though I felt the gowns looked better on the international runway, the short dresses got my vote for the day. IFP loved Bibhu’s work for it’s simplicity, subtle detailwork and sophisticated look. If you are looking for a cocktail outfit which oozes loads of oomph, Bibhu’s creation might be the answer to your prayer.

LFW is here! LFW is here! I might not be able to attend this event but I am always excited to see the new, alluring fashion on the runway. The fresh designs, the flowy silhouette, the styling trends………….IFP can’t get enough of it. So without wasting much time, let’s see what is new in store and which collection does IFP simply love.

Vikram Phadnis

Vikram Phadnis presented his Resort 2012 collection which majorly had pastels combined with prints and golden detail work. The Collection was very regal with use of rich fabric to create jackets, lehengas, kalidaars, pants and sarees. Vikram also had showcased traditional menswear collection as well which consisted of sherwani & churidhar. Amrita Arora Ladakh and Malaika Arora Khan were the show-stopper for Vikram…….both dressed in beautiful Lehenga and looked every bit like a princess. IFP likes the the pastel colors which fit the bill for Resort-wear. Though not too fond of the prints, Vikram has designed a subtle collection for the summer weddings.

Masaba Gupta

Masaba Gupta showcased her recent work ‘Sorbet’ after a year at LFW. The funky prints formed patiala salwars, kurtis, stoles, tops………..there was a fusion between western and traditional Indian styles. The yellow color infused with black & white was new from Masaba this time. but the fit of the silhouette did take browny points. The styling was neat and the clothes were mixed-n-matched to perfection. IFP likes Masaba’s ‘Sorbet’ collection for it’s uniqueness and fun element which is sure to appeal to the younger at heart kinds.

James Ferreira

Tie & Dye was given a new leash of life by designer James Ferreira by his recent collection’ Save the Air’. Love the bright colours of dresses, shirts, tops, jumpsuits, gown, maxi that were showcased. The collection also had a lot of white outfits but I am more attracted towards his colorful range which are perfect for the upcoming summer season. IFP sure gives thumbs up for the bright hues in western silhouette…………..James once again proves tht western designs are his forte.

Inspired by the essence of an Indian summer wedding with all its rich culture and aromas of jasmine and turmeric and the magical and mystical chaos of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s dream’ the Payal Singhal Resort Bridal 2012 collection is a mélange of ethereal resort and Indian bridal clothing.
Perfect for the summer bride and her destination wedding be it Greece or Goa, the collection showcases dresses, gowns, lehngas, sarees and kurtas in colors of blush, mint and sand with richer Indian colors like indigo, purple, emerald and turmeric. The sexy bride who makes a statement as a summer bride anywhere in the world.

Textured in with georgettes, silks, banarsis, brocades, tulle and taffeta and embellished in Payal Singhal’s signature style with pita kora work and filigree with gota, moti and crystals adding a flash of dazzle amidst the summery fashions.